Mora said the approval of these protocols was a major achievement and big step to ensure access of more Costa Rican products to the world’s biggest market.

The Costa Rican ministers also took the opportunity to conclude negotiations for the export of crayfish to China and proposed the export of other products including chicken, pork, dried pineapple, mellon, frozen vegetables and fruit, shrimp and other seafood.

China is currently one of Costa Rica’s biggest trading partners. Exports to China grew by an annual average of 7.6 percent between 2004 to 2014. Last year exports reached a total of $338.3 million, according to the Foreign Trade Ministry.